Mary Ethel (Manion) Ward, third child of Robert and Nora (Pierce) Manion was born on March 22, 1915 in Worth County and departed this life at Golden Living Center-Colonial Manor in Albany on May 22, 2012 at the age of 97 years and 2 months. When she was 5 years old, the family moved by train to McFall, Missouri. She graduated from McFall High School in 1933. Mary was a member of the McFall Christian Church and attended the Albany First Christian Church when her health permitted. On January 3, 1942, she was united in marriage to Elmo L. Ward at the home of Rev. O.D. Hedges in Martinsville. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Albany Senior Center for several years. She worked as a clerk for 12 years at Place's and Western Auto. She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, her parents, brother, Russel Manion, 2 sisters, Venita Muir and Helen Manion, niece, Creta Woodcock and nephew, Lonnie Clark. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Marlene & Donald Arthur, Albany; son, Garel Dean Ward, Albany; 5 grandchildren, Kevin (Kim) Arthur, Albany; Kim (Daniel) Parmenter, Albany; Kerry Arthur, Boonville; Darron Ward, Bethany; and Amanda Ward, Kansas City; 4 great-grandchildren, Katelyn and Dylan Arthur, Quincy and Vance Parmenter and nieces and nephews.